CHINO – Federal officials said Thursday they have billed a local slaughterhouse more than $67million for expenses associated with the largest beef recall in U.S. history.

Chino-based Westland/ Hallmark Meat Co. recalled 143million pounds of beef in February after the Humane Society of the United States released undercover video showing plant employees abusing sick or weakened cows.

An agency review found that some of the so-called “downer” cows were slaughtered in violation of U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, which prompted the recall.

The USDA billed the plant $67.2million on April 4 for more than 50million pounds of beef the government purchased for the National School Lunch Program, said Craig Morris, deputy administrator of the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service.

Westland/Hallmark was the second-largest supplier of ground beef to lunch program. It also provided meat to hundreds of restaurants and food manufacturers.

Further bills for the cost of destroying the beef and resupplying affected schools could run up to $50million more, Morris said.

If the plant can’t pay – which is likely – taxpayers will pick up the bill, officials said.

Steve Mendell, the company’s owner, previously said the plant would close and more than 200 employees would lose their jobs.

An attorney for Mendell did not immediately return a call for comment Thursday.